A lawyer and chairmanship contender for Sagamu Local Government, Prince Adebayo Ogunmeno Esq., has taken the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) and eight others to the Federal High Court in Abeokuta.
He is requesting a court order directing the commission to remove the name of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Sagamu ahead of the local government elections on November 16.
Ogunmeno, representing himself, also seeks an order nullifying the APC’s “hand-pick” of Afolabi Jubril Odulate (2nd defendant) as the Sagamu chairmanship candidate.
In the suit marked FHC/AB/141/24, Ogunmeno has listed the APC, Odulate, Chief Yemi Sanusi (State Party Chairman), and others as 1st to 9th defendants.
The suit arises from an application to enforce pre-election rights under the Nigerian Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and APC’s Constitution, among others.
Ahead of the November 16 elections, there have been protests within the APC across the state over alleged impositions of chairmanship candidates.
Ogunmeno’s suit seeks to prevent OGSIEC from including the 2nd defendant’s name on the ballot.
He asks the court to decide whether the APC can select its Sagamu candidate without conducting a primary election, as required by the Electoral Act and APC’s Constitution.
The lawyer also argues that OGSIEC cannot legally include Odulate’s name on the ballot if no proper primaries were held.
Ogunmeno seeks a ruling that the APC must adhere to its own rules and the Electoral Act in selecting its Sagamu candidate where there are multiple aspirants.
Among his reliefs, he seeks a declaration that political appointees cannot serve as delegates to select the chairmanship candidate under the party’s rules and the law.
He also calls for an order restraining Odulate from presenting himself as the party’s candidate, and directing the APC to withdraw his name from the list submitted to OGSIEC.
The case is set to proceed within 10 days of service of the summons, according to the originating summons dated October 2, 2024.
